South African 1st Army

The South African 1st Army was a major component of the South African Army, formed ca. 1867. The 1st Army, stationed in Cape Town, was the only standing army of South Africa up to 1882, with 27,000 troops under General David de Robeck.

History
The 1st Army was formed circa 1867, when Cape Colony was granted self-rule by the United Kingdom. Made up of 27,000 troops from various ethnicities across South Africa, the 1st Army was the only standing army of South Africa for decades. The purpose of the 1st Army was to defend the borders and even expand them, and the 1st Army was stationed in eastern South Africa to protect the borders from the Zulu and Oranje.

November 1882

 * 1st Thaba Bosiu Cuirassier Brigade
 * 1st Beaufort Infantry Brigade
 * 1st Port Elizabeth Infantry Brigade
 * 1st Thaba Bosiu Infantry Brigade
 * 1st Swettenham Infantry Brigade
 * 1st Cape Town Infantry Brigade
 * 1st Graaf Reinet Infantry Brigade
 * 1st Umtata Infantry Brigade
 * 1st Mossel Bay Infantry Brigade